Chennai: With social media redefining the spread of news, the DMK government proposes a nomination of “social media officers” who will examine messages, news, photos and visuals related to each department on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Groups Whatapp.
Communique in this case has been sent to all secretaries, head of the district department and collector on Wednesday.
Each department has been told to nominate three Nodal officers.
“The move came after instructions from the main secretary to improve the government’s performance.
There is a meeting scheduled to take place under the main Secretary I to the Minister of Chief with this Nodal officer on Friday, which has been postponed,” said a senior official.
Each Nodal officer must provide an WhatsApp account number, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to the Information Department.
The Reference Section and Press Preparation from the Ministry of Information and Public Relations must go through all print and visual media and record “negative criticisms and news” published or expressions on the government and advanced the same as their respective secretaries, heads of departments and collectors every day by hours 8 am through whatsapp.
The latter must verify the authenticity of the news and the appropriate Roboinder must be prepared before 2 noon the same day.
The information department will take action to publish and broadcast replies or rejinder in the media concerned.
The main secretary instructed that the copy of the news item must be submitted to Him before 9:30 in the morning and the actions taken or returned before 3pm on the same day, the source said.
The Information Department has also provided two cellphone numbers appointed for all secretaries, head departments and collectors to send bad reports in print media and electronic media and receive the action of taking reports and Roboinder.